British politics: The Changing Role of Journalism GV311 Feb 2015 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

British politics: The Changing Role of Journalism GV311 Feb 2015 Prof Charlie Beckett Director, Polis Dept of Media & Communication

• What is the structural role of journalism in UK politics and how well does it perform? • How is political journalism changing? • What impact might that have on democracy?

How did this….

…lead to this?

It was mainly this

Plus a lot of this

Though it wouldn’t work without this

Unique or a precedent? • Rochester by-election – damage limitation • Over-reaction by over-sensitive leader • Inevitable consequence of febrile networked political media (and polling day media vacuum) • Toxic combination of anti-Labour blogger (who works for) and anti-Labour newspaper • Genuine problem with core vote perception of aloof politicians and out of touch Labour elite

What does journalism do for politics? • Information [facts, records, statistics, events, policies] • Deliberation [debate, analysis, comment, opinion] • Accountability [investigation, audit, voice for citizen, campaigns]

History of news: a battle between press & power

History of news: a battle between press & power • Inns of court: state PR • Holborn printers – licensed press • Covent Garden coffee houses – paid hacks • Reporting parliament – a controlled Lobby • Broadcasting – public and commercial – all regulated • Internet & social media – call for controls

The problem with political journalism is..?

The (politician’s) problem with political journalism is..? • Unaccountable power • Bias • Obsession with process • Cynicism • Lack of information • Lack of expertise • Loss of local press

The (journalist’s) problem with political journalism is..? • Lack of resources for (political) journalism • Government secrecy • Government and party spin and manipulation • Disintermediation: increased role of social networks & public relations

The (public’s) problem with political journalism is..? • Too complicated • Too simplistic • Too cynical • Not critical enough • Too belligerent, biased • Too complicit – not critical or radical enough • Too much process • Sensationalist • Boring • Not informed enough about • Irrelevant – ‘Westminster realities of policy-making bubble’

Press power?

PR power?

Triumph of spin?

LoL

Leveson’s verdict • Politicians “developed too close a relationship with the Press in a way which has not been in the public interest’ • Regular political journalism was "in robust good health and performing the vital public interest functions in a vigorous democracy,"

Networked Journalism

non-political political fora

• General Election TV Debate

Structural change: Mixed media – but all networked • Traditional ‘ legacy’media • Social news media • Social networks

Politicians News Media Public

Political reporting is now networked Citizens Politicians Media

Redefine ‘ Journalist ’ • Curator • Partner • Social networker • Specialist

Redefine ‘ News ’ • (Open) Data • Transient ‘liquid’ reality • Relationship not authority • Contested not objective

What difference does it make? • Influence – who has it? • Proportionality – a fair voice? • Verification – what’s true? • Acceleration – faster, instant, all the time • Destabilisation – surprise, ambush, reveal • Superficiality – attention & distraction • Fragmentation or diversity?

Filter bubbles?

Filter bubbles?

Distraction? • 1968 average TV soundbite 43” • 1988 average TV soundbite 9” • 1892 average newspaper quote 1.7 column inches • 1916 average newspaper quote 1.0 column inch

Distraction?

A challenge to politicians

Challenge to journalists

Real problem is engagement, attention & authenticity

How to get people’s attention

@CharlieBeckett Prof Charlie Beckett Director, Polis Dept of Media & Communication